Re-designing environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutant through programmed inactivation: The case of methotrexate.

Environmental emission of pharmaceutical pollutants notably causes the contamination of aquatic ecosystems and drinking water. Typically, reduction of these pollutants in the environment is mostly managed by ameliorated wastewater treatments. Here, we report a method for the eco-design of drugs through the introduction within the molecular structure of a sensitive chemical group responsive to water treatments.

The impact of respite care from the perspectives and experiences of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their care partners: a qualitative study.

Background: Respite care provides caregiving support to people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their care partners by providing the care partner with temporary relief from their caregiving duties. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of respite care through the perspectives and lived experiences of people with ALS and their care partners.

Methods: Thirty-one dyads (62 participants) of people with ALS and their care partners were assigned to either the control group or the respite care intervention.

Changes in Self-Efficacy and Social Support after an Intervention to Increase Physical Activity Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Oman: A 12-month follow-up of the MOVEdiabetes trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe changes in self-efficacy (SE) and social support (SS) 12 months after the MOVEdiabetes trial, an intervention designed to increase physical activity (PA) among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Oman.

Methods: The original MOVEdiabetes trial was conducted between April 2016 and June 2017 in Muscat, Oman. The intervention group (IG) received personalised PA consultations, pedometers and monthly messages using a web-based application, while the comparison group received usual care.

Perceived Changes in General Well-being: Findings from the 'MOVEdiabetes' Physical Activity Randomized Control Trial.

Objectives: Studies have consistently reported the health benefits of physical activity (PA) in diabetes care. Our study aimed to explore perceptions of general well-being in participants of the 'MOVEdiabetes' intervention aimed at increasing PA in adults with type 2 diabetes in Oman.

Methods: 'MOVEdiabetes' is a cluster-randomized study where participants in the intervention group (IG) received PA consultations, pedometers, and WhatsApp messages versus the usual care in the control group (CG).

Acceptability of the "MOVEdiabetes" physical activity intervention in diabetes primary care settings in Oman: findings from participants and practitioners.

Background: Adequate physical activity (PA) is considered essential in diabetes management. However, evidence on the best method of promoting PA within diabetes care is inconclusive. The current work identifies perceptions on the acceptability of Intervention Group Participants (IGP) and Project Officers (POs) about the "MOVEdiabetes" intervention programme aimed at increasing PA in adults with type 2 diabetes in Oman (a retrospectively registered trial).

Pneumococcal carriage among children under five in Accra, Ghana, five years after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Background: The study objective was to determine the carriage and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae among children in Accra, Ghana, five years after the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) in 2012.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from 410 children below 5 years of age in Accra, Ghana, from September to December, 2016. Pneumococcal isolates were identified by optochin sensitivity and bile solubility.

'MOVEdiabetes': a cluster randomized controlled trial to increase physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes in primary health in Oman.

Objective: This study examined the impact of a multicomponent intervention to increase physical activity (PA) in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Oman.

Research Design And Methods: This is a cluster randomized controlled trial in eight primary health centers. Participants were physically inactive, aged ≥18 years, and with no contraindication to PA.

Health professionals' perceptions about physical activity promotion in diabetes care within primary health care settings in Oman.

Background: As part of formative work to inform an interventional design to increase physical activity (PA) in patients with type 2 diabetes in Oman, this qualitative study aimed to determine health professionals' perception of barriers and opportunities, personnel responsibilities and plausible PA promotional approaches.

Methods: Four focus group discussions were carried out with groups of health care professionals (family physicians, dieticians and health educators, managers and general practitioners). All discussions were audio recorded and transcribed.

Perceived barriers to leisure time physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes attending primary healthcare in Oman: a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: Physical activity is fundamental in diabetes management for good metabolic control. This study aimed to identify barriers to performing leisure time physical activity and explore differences based on gender, age, marital status, employment, education, income and perceived stages of change in physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes in Oman.

Design: Cross-sectional study using an Arabic version of the 'Barriers to Being Active' 27-item questionnaire.

Correlates of physical activity and sitting time in adults with type 2 diabetes attending primary health care in Oman.

Background: Despite evidence of the benefits of physical activity in the management of type 2 diabetes, it is poorly addressed in diabetes care. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and correlates of meeting ≥600MET-min/wk. (150 min/wk) of physical activity and sitting time in adults with type 2 diabetes in Oman.

Effectiveness of nutritional and exercise interventions to improve body composition and muscle strength or function in sarcopenic obese older adults: A systematic review.

Although sarcopenic obesity (SO) poses a major public health concern, a robust approach for the optimization of body composition and strength/function in SO has not yet been established. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of nutritional (focusing on energy and protein modulation) and exercise interventions, either individually or combined, on body composition and strength/function in older adults with SO. MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus were searched.

Susceptibility Profiles of Isolates to Streptomycin and Rifampicin in Two Districts of the Eastern Region of Ghana.

. Drug resistance is a major challenge in antibiotic chemotherapy. Assessing resistance profiles of pathogens constitutes an essential surveillance tool in the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, including Buruli ulcer (BU) disease.

Evaluating decontamination protocols for the isolation of Mycobacterium ulcerans from swabs.

Background: Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) is the causative agent of Buruli Ulcer (BU) disease. In order to inhibit the growth of the microbial contaminants during culture of M.

Coeliac disease and the gluten-free diet: a review of the burdens; factors associated with adherence and impact on health-related quality of life, with specific focus on adolescence.

Adherence and non-adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) may impact negatively on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Understanding the factors that influence compliance could help inform management and also guide support. With a particular focus on adolescence, this narrative review critiques current literature on the burdens associated with following a GFD and the factors associated with adherence.

Dietary intakes in geriatric orthopaedic rehabilitation patients: Need to look at food consumption not just provision.

Background & Aims: Elderly orthopaedic rehabilitation patients are potentially at high nutritional risk and thus nutrition provision is a fundamental component of the multidisciplinary care to optimise physical rehabilitation. Hospital food service (catering) is internationally recognised as a key component of good clinical care of patients and has the potential to provide a population approach to managing under-nutrition. Within Scotland, there have been significant developments with regards to food, fluid and nutritional care within clinical settings including the setting of clinical standards.

A study of fluid provision and consumption in elderly patients in a long-stay rehabilitation hospital.

Background: Adequate hydration is key to good clinical care and essential for preventing problems in elderly patients such as constipation, pressure sores and confusion. The present study aimed to evaluate fluid provision and consumption in elderly patients against current standards for Scottish hospitals.

Methods: A service evaluation, of fluid provision and consumption over 24 h by elderly orthopaedic rehabilitation patients in a long-stay hospital in Scotland was conducted.

A randomised trial of the impact of energy density and texture of a meal on food and energy intake, satiation, satiety, appetite and palatability responses in healthy adults.

Background & Aims: Texture modified diets may be enriched to optimise the opportunity for individuals to meet their required energy intakes; however there is insufficient evidence supporting this strategy. Thus we sought to investigate the effect of texture and energy density on food (g) and energy intakes (kcal), appetite (satiation and satiety), and palatability in healthy adults.

Methods: A single blind within-subjects randomised crossover design, where 33 healthy adults consumed a test meal with either its texture and/or energy density altered, until satiation was reached whilst rating their appetite parameters.

The rising incidence of celiac disease in Scotland.

Background And Objectives: Although the incidence of pediatric celiac disease (CD) is increasing globally, it is uncertain whether this is attributed to improved case ascertainment or signifies a true rise. We aimed to identify all incident cases of childhood CD in southeast Scotland over the period 1990 to 2009 to assess trends in total incidence and cases diagnosed as a result of (1) a classic presentation, (2) a nonclassic presentation, or (3) targeted screening.

Methods: Twenty-year retrospective cohort study of case notes, pathology databases, endoscopy, and patient records for all children (<16 years of age) diagnosed with CD on biopsy in southeast Scotland (at-risk population of 225000-233000).

Childhood coeliac disease diagnoses in Scotland 2009-2010: the SPSU project.

Objectives: To establish the incidence of childhood coeliac disease (CD) in Scotland between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010, to determine clinical features at presentation and reasons for diagnosis, and to identify any differences in incidence and practice between regions.

Design: Prospective data collection through the Scottish Paediatric Surveillance Unit (SPSU). Strategic contacts in each tertiary gastrointestinal region (East, West and North) were emailed monthly to report new cases of CD (<16 years).

Dietary and fluid intakes of older adults in care homes requiring a texture modified diet: the role of snacks.

Objective: To evaluate and compare energy, protein, non-starch polysaccharide, and fluid intakes of a care home population consuming a texture modified diet (TMD) with those on a standard diet and also to evaluate the role of snacks in individuals' diets.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Care homes.

Antimicrobial resistance and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains causing childhood infection in Burkina Faso.

In Burkina Faso, a Western African country, reports on pneumococci carriage, resistance patterns and serotypes are inconsistent. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate these parameters. Thus 860 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from children attending vaccination centers for pneumococci isolation, identification and serotype determination.